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Hokay. So when I was but a lowly teen, I was snotty and annoying (arguably I haven't changed). I went through the whole AdBusters and the No Logo phase of my development where we have to shit all over the existing system of capitalism and commericialism. And during this inevitable phase, I became an "activist" which is to say that I scoffed at people who wore brand names, I made fun of people who had brand loyalty and etc. Also during this phase, I became anti-Christmas because of numerous factors including the fact that I was agnostic, my mother athiest and my father generic Christian. As well, I felt that Christmas had "turned into" a holiday all about the almighty dollar. I perceived that Christmas was "becoming" too commercial. It had "lost" its religious aspects. I tried to get my high school to recognize other religious holidays, including Ramadan (as if I knew anything about it) and Yom Kippur (same thing as the other item).
Now that I'm in a liberal arts university, I am completely immersed in a world of anti-capitalism, anti-globalization, anti-corporations, and anti-establishment. The status quo at my uni is to protest everything but ribbon campaigns. I grew weary of it. I wasn't interested in the fact that capitalism was destroying the world. I wasn't interested in the Iraq-American war (and I admit, I really should be interested).
I'm annoyed by my university community (that's anti-capitalist; I make no claims about the overarching behaviours and beliefs of the whole community) and it's unfailing anti-capitalist stance. I'm annoyed by people who tell me that Christmas is too commercial, as if this is a new thing. I'm annoyed by people who spout rhetoric saying that we only buy things because the corporations want to make money. Blah, blah, fucking blah.
Is it a cliche to say that Christmas is too commercial? Is it something other people encounter in their lives?
To be clear, our family "celebrates" Christmas in that we use it as an excuse to get the whole family together, have dinner, exchange small gifts, and generally just have a good time and a rest. As well, it's perfectly cool with me to be anti-capitalist, anti-globalization, etc. I don't know enough about the technical, philosophical, ethical implications of it all to make judgements. I just use my uni as an example, but I'm sure you know someone who shits all over Christmas.
Has it become a cliche to shit all over Christmas? Do you groan when somebody says the holidays have become "Crass-mas"? Is someone a moron for pointing out that Christmas is all about money? Is that even true?
(Also, I get annoyed by those smartie-pants who tell me with a wink that the tradition of the tree is a "pagan" tradition. Who gives a shit, pal?) |
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